Mother Tongue Department
Post-Exam Activities: Indian Cultural workshop
At Regent Secondary School, our Secondary 1 students recently participated in an enriching workshop centered on Indian cultural practices. This immersive three-day program featured activities such as Rangoli design, pottery, and thoranam weaving, offering students hands-on opportunities to appreciate and learn about the rich history and traditions of the Indian community. Initiatives like this play a vital role in fostering cultural understanding and appreciation in Singapore’s diverse society.
The Rangoli session introduced students to the intricate art of creating colorful patterns using materials such as colored powders, rice, and flower petals. Traditionally made during Indian festivals like Deepavali, Rangoli symbolizes welcome and good fortune. Through this activity, students developed skills in design and color coordination while gaining a deeper understanding of the symbolic significance behind this beautiful art form.
The pottery activity provided students with insight into an ancient Indian craft that has been cherished through generations. Under guidance, students shaped clay into pots similar to those traditionally used in Indian households for cooking and storage. This hands-on experience taught them patience, creativity, and an appreciation for the cultural importance of sustainable practices.
In the thoranam weaving workshop, students created decorative garlands, typically hung at the entrances of homes during special occasions to symbolize prosperity and well-being. Traditionally made using mango leaves, thoranam embodies joy, celebration, and respect for tradition. Using ribbons, students crafted their own thoranam and discovered the significance of these decorations in Indian culture.
This workshop offered our students valuable knowledge about Indian cultural practices and an appreciation for the rich diversity within Singapore. Experiences like these contribute to the holistic development of our students, nurturing respect and empathy for different cultural backgrounds and strengthening the bonds within our vibrant community.
Pesta Budaya 2024: A Gateway to Tradition
At the heart of Woodlands Civic Centre, Regent Secondary School students proudly hosted a captivating booth during Pesta Budaya 2024—a celebration of Malay traditional games. Dressed in traditional Malay attire, they warmly welcomed visitors, inviting them to experience a slice of heritage. Their booth, adorned with nostalgic motifs, attracted curious onlookers. Here, ‘gasing’ were spun, ‘congkak seeds’ were counted, and ‘capteh’ floated in the air, defying gravity. But this wasn’t just play; it was an educational journey into the origins, meanings, and life lessons embedded in each game.
Senior Minister of State Mr. Zaqy Mohamed visited the booth, his presence bridging generations. The students, both nervous and proud, explained their mission: to rekindle interest, honour their roots, and pass on their heritage. Through these games, they sowed seeds of appreciation and continuity, showing that these weren’t just relics of the past—they were vessels of wisdom, resilience, and joy.
As the event drew to a close, the students reflected on their success. They had met their goals: raising awareness, showcasing the significance of these games, and planting hope for the future. They envisioned children laughing, elders reminiscing and the sounds of marbles echoing through time. In that sunlit corner, the past came alive alongside the present. And the students carried forward a legacy—one that whispered, “Play on, for our culture lives within you.”
Cultural Learning Exposure
Cultural Performance Exposure (Chinese Language & Malay Language)
Chinese Cultural Exposure: "Crosstalk is Here" Performance
On 28 March, our 2G3 and 2CLB Chinese language students attended a special performance titled "Crosstalk is Here" at the Singapore Chinese Cultural Center. Presented by the local group Sin Feng Xiang Sheng Society, this hour-long performance offered a deeper understanding of crosstalk, a traditional Chinese comedic art form. The witty and humorous skits had both students and teachers laughing throughout the show. In their feedback, students expressed that the experience was incredibly meaningful, sparking their interest in traditional performing arts and their desire for more cultural exposure opportunities.
Malay Cultural Exposure: Wayang Kulit and Indonesian Cultural Showcase
On 15 August , our Secondary Two students immersed themselves in a rich cultural experience by attending a Wayang Kulit performance titled "Wow Wayang". This traditional shadow puppet show, deeply rooted in Indonesian culture, offered a glimpse into one of Southeast Asia's oldest art forms. The students were captivated by the lively storytelling and vibrant visuals of the show. Some students even had the chance to try their hand at manipulating the shadow puppets, gaining hands-on experience with this intricate art form.
In addition to the Wayang Kulit performance, students participated in the Indonesian Cultural Showcase, where they explored the cultural significance of traditional martial arts and dance. This enriching experience provided students with a deeper appreciation for Indonesian customs, values, and history. Overall, it was a memorable and insightful journey that helped students connect more closely with the heritage of their Southeast Asian neighbors.
Our school remains committed to providing holistic educational experiences that foster cultural awareness and appreciation. These events are invaluable in broadening students' horizons and enhancing their understanding of diverse cultural traditions.
Mother Tongue Fortnight 2024
From 19 February to 5 March 2024, Regent Secondary School was abuzz with vibrant cultural festivities during our annual Mother Tongue Fortnight programme. This enriching event aim to cultivate an immersive environment for our students to delve into and appreciate the beauty of their Mother Tongue languages and culture.
Throughout the fortnight, students embarked on a captivating journey through various cultural learning activities, each themed to offer a comprehensive exploration:
Secondary 1: Art and Craft – Students unleashed their creativity through Chinese Opera mask-painting or Malay wau kite-making.
Secondary 2: Calligraphy - The elegance of Chinese calligraphy and the intricacies of Khat drawing and Jawi calligraphy were unveiled.
Secondary 3: Martial Arts -Students honed their skills in Wushu or embraced the grace of Silat Pengantin.
Secondary 4: Puppetry – The magic of Chinese shadow puppetry and the enchantment of Wayang Kulit came to life.
Guided by experienced instructors, students delved into the rich history and significance of each cultural activity. They immersed themselves in mesmerizing demonstrations and actively participated in hands-on segments.
At Regent, we envision our students as global citizens deeply rooted to their cultural identities. Through the Mother Tongue Fortnight programme, we aim to instill in our Regenites a profound appreciation and respect for their Mother Tongue languages and culture by setting them on a journey of exploration of their linguistic heritage.
As we reflect on the success of the 2024 Mother Tongue Fortnight, we are filled with pride at the enthusiasm and dedication displayed by our students. We remain committed to nurturing a vibrant and inclusive learning environment where cultural diversity is celebrated and cherished.
Past MT Department Events
2023
Conversational Chinese Malay Language Programme 2023
Semester 1 saw our Secondary 1 and 2 students kickstarting their language-learning journey with the Conversational Chinese and Malay (CCM) Programme. An MOE-initiative launched in 2005, CCM provides learners with an elementary understanding of a third language: Mandarin-speaking students will learn Malay, and vice versa.
Slated to run till August, our students can, in this 10-week programme, look forward to learning how to read and speak in the target language through engaging activities such as role-plays and quizzes. To enhance their leaning of the language, students will also be introduced to aspects of Chinese and Malay culture—their customs, food, and festivals!
As they say, “Language is a gateway to culture”. It is our hope that through these lessons, our students will not only take away with them conversational skills in Chinese / Malay, but also a deeper appreciation for the diversity of cultures and racial harmony that we have in Singapore.
MT Fortnight 2023
In Regent Secondary School, Mother Tongue Fortnight activities adopted a thematic approach with the Secondary 1 students participating in cultural arts and craft activities such as Opera Mask Painting and Wau Kite making. The Secondary 2 students were immersing themselves in the beauty of Chinese Calligraphy and Khat Drawing/Javi Calligraphy while the Secondary 3 students were executing the Chinese Wushu and Silat martial arts moves in precision. The Secondary 4 students had the opportunities to create and design authentic characters for the Shadow Puppetry Performance. This cultural fiesta programmes have definitely enhanced Regenities' language literacy skills and enabled them to appreciate one another's culture and traditions.
📹 Click to watch Sec 3 Silat Appreciation
📹 Click to watch Sec 3 Wushu Appreciation
2022
MT Fortnight 2022
Learning Mother Tongue Languages in Regent is more than just about words, vocabulary, grammar and sentence construction – it is also about the appreciation of the rich culture, traditions and heritage of the students’ Mother Tongue.
MT Fortnight in Regent is a valuable learning opportunity where Regenites are immersed in the appreciation and learning of their Mother Tongue languages and culture through diversified activities. Some of the authentic cultural activities carried out this year are Chinese Paper Cutting, Shadow Puppetry, Latern Making as well as Wau Kite, Silat, Zapin Dance, Bunga Rampai and Indian Thoranam.
These activities have provided authentic opportunities for students to experience the various culture and heritage. Well done to all the participants of the MT Fortnight and to the Mother Tongue Department for such an engaging and educational exhibition of culture!
2021
Bingkisan Aidilfitri
In the spirit of giving and sharing in the month of Syawal, Regent’s Malay Language Unit has embarked on project ‘Bingkisan Aidilfitri’. ‘Bingkisan Aidilfitri’ is a collaboration between the Muslim staff of Regent Secondary School and our graduating students to express our sincere appreciation to our school support staff for their relentless effort in ensuring a safe and conducive environment for all staff and students.
This initiative, collectively funded by Muslim staff of Regent Secondary School, aims to share the joy of Hari Raya with the school’s support staff. Through this project too, the teachers hope to instil a sense of gratitude as well as to cultivate the spirit of giving back to the society among our students. Giving back comes in many forms; monetary donation, volunteering and sharing of gifts with the less fortunate. The spirit of Ramadan does not only encourage believers to fast, but also to celebrate and reflect on our lives as well as to count our blessings and live with the spirit of generosity.
Mother Tongue Fortnight 2021
Regent Secondary School Mother Tongue Fortnight, which took place from 26th April to 29th April 2021, aimed to create an immersive environment to promote the use of Mother Tongue languages beyond classrooms and encourage cultural discovery through an authentic and fun learning experience. In addition to learning and using the language, students were exposed to a wide range of activities.
A wide range of activities, both within and beyond the classrooms, were conducted to enable students to learn and use Malay Language in novel and exciting ways.
Secondary 1 students had the opportunity to learn one form of handicraft, namely Wau Batik Painting and a Virtual Tour Programme of Kampung Glam.
Secondary 2 students, on the other hand, were introduced to Herbs & Spices and also had the opportunity to make Insect Repellant using natural sources.
Secondary 3 students, inclusive of the non-Malay students, had an enjoyable time with their classmates learning Dikir Barat. At the end of the second session, they had the chance to perform the new skill they had picked up. In addition, the Malay students also had the opportunity to learn a form of handicraft in the form of Basket Weaving Workshop.
On top of those activities, the students were also able to experience activity booths during their recess and lunch breaks. The booths showcased different activities for the whole week. The activities ranged from Wau Batik Painting, Traditional Games, Wayang Kulit puppet-making and Roti Jala Making and displaying of Malay Hari Raya Cookies.
Students’ involvement had been very encouraging. They are clear indications of our students’ love to use and learn the Malay language. The following are some of students’ reflections:
“I am very glad to be able to participate in the Mother Tongue Fortnight Programme this year, particularly the ‘Dikir Barat’ session! It brought my classmates from different races together as we co-ordinated our hand movements in unison to sing our own rendition of a classic Hari Raya song. I am proud to be able to expose my classmates to Malay culture and I hope they enjoyed the session as much as I did!” – Muhammad Erryan Bin Mohamad Faizul, Class 3 Empathy
“This year, we had an array of activities for our Mother Tongue Fortnight Programme. There was a booth set up at the canteen that featured Malay traditional Wau painting, traditional games, and a demonstration on making Wayang Kulit puppets as well as making of Roti Jala, which is a Malay delicacy. The highlight of the week was the activity we had on Thursday afternoon when we had the chance to learn the skill of weaving baskets! I also had a chance to learn Silat, the traditional Malay self-defence art. These activities sparked my interest to deepen my knowledge on Malay culture and I look forward to participating in more cultural events in future!’’- Ainin Sofiya Binte Md Kamal, Class 3 Determination
“I had the chance to do Wau painting as well as create my own Wayang Kulit character. It was all worth the effort when I saw the product of my creativity. I also had the chance to make my own herbal insect repellent using spices this week. I am very happy to be able to participate in the activities and hope to learn more in next year during our Mother Tongue Programme!”- Emir Affiq Bin Mohd Azhari, Class 2 Pride
Overall, these activities provided authentic opportunities for all students to use their Mother Tongue Language and experience the Malay culture and heritage. Well done to all the participants of the MT Fortnight!